Saturday's letters

Saturday

Sep 28, 2013 at 12:01 AM

Profiting from students

I applaud the Sarasota County School Board for its recent scrutiny of applications to create new charter schools.

During this critical period in the development of educational instruction in Florida, any applicant needs to be highly qualified and able to fill identified student needs. The addition of charter schools at this time during our school system's adjustment to national Common Core standards, which will take many months to complete, doesn't seem appropriate.

I question the logic of paying our tax revenues to any national charter-school organization to operate a for-profit school here, because they are usually headquartered in another state. Net profits earned here accrue to that corporation and, for all we know, may end up parked in an offshore, tax-free bank account.

Further, that corporation would likely control most management and purchasing decisions, unless our school board stipulated otherwise. Even nonprofit corporate managers control their own executive reimbursement plan.

Corporations maximize profits by minimizing costs, especially labor (teachers) and purchasing (books, food, etc.). This is well and good for corporations. But is it in the best interests of our children, who should receive the best education we can give them, and not be targeted or involved as little profit centers?

Jim Beck

Sarasota

The right's radical stand

Tom Lyons' column regarding Frances Rice brings out how radical those on the political right have become.

They believe in free speech as long as it agrees with their views. They also believe that if you disagree with them, then you are un-American, a communist, a socialist and someone unworthy to hold political office.

Impeach the president: on what grounds? Not agreeing with you is not grounds for impeachment.

Recall commissioners for wanting a review of "Stand Your Ground?" I can only speak for myself: I would feel much safer if "Stand Your Ground" was repealed -- or at least significantly modified. We don't need the Wild West, with people shooting first and asking questions later.

Sam H. Caudle

Sarasota

Promote palliative care

As a cancer survivor, volunteer and caregiver, I've experienced firsthand how the mental and physical side effects of treatment can take a toll on one's quality of life. As health professionals focus on the cancer treatment itself, comfort and concerns such as pain, nausea, shortness of breath and anxiety are often not addressed aggressively.

That's where palliative care can help. Palliative care is a growing field of specialized medical care that improves the quality of life of patients and their families from the point of diagnosis by focusing on symptoms of treatment for a serious disease such as cancer.

Recently I traveled to Washington, D.C., with hundreds of volunteers from across the country and met with members of Congress and asked them to co-sponsor two federal bills currently pending that educate patients about palliative care, provide improved training for health care providers and support more comprehensive research on the benefits of palliative care.

I want to thank Rep. Vern Buchanan for adding his name to the growing list of lawmakers supporting patients' quality of life. Congress must take this opportunity to expand access to palliative care so patients and their families can have that extra layer of support when they need it most.

Nancy Ambrose

Volunteer,

American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN)

Holmes Beach

Let's keep on dancing

Many residents, taxpayers and voters enjoy Saturday night dancing at Payne Park auditorium. We ask that the building be brought up to code by the city of Sarasota so we can continue dancing there.

A great deal of money was spent on the children's portion of the park, which is a good thing. That project should be extended to the auditorium.

Money has been wasted on parking meters, roundabouts and the sewer project on Osprey Avenue.

It will cost $80,000 to demolish the auditorium. Why not add to that and bring it up to code?

Mary M. Henry

Sarasota

Phony farmers markets

In an article in Tuesday's business section, Justine Griffin rhapsodizes, "who could honestly discount ... our fabulous farmers markets?" The answer is "I."

Sarasota's farmers markets are not fabulous. In fact, they're not even farmers markets. A real farmers market will not permit anyone to participate unless he has grown the products he is selling. Many participants in Sarasota's farmers market know nothing about the fruits and vegetables they sell except the prices.

I come from a city where there was a real farmers market. During the season there are about 20 different varieties of corn being sold, at least that many varieties of tomatoes and many kinds of peaches. The farmers know the names of what they are selling and can describe their different characteristics, and can discuss their subtle differences.

At the Sarasota markets, when asking what kind of peach someone is selling, the seller invariably will answer something like, "It's from Tennessee." Yes, but what is its name? "Are you kidding? I have no idea." I once asked someone what kind of corn he was selling, and he responded, "It's from Idaho." (Idaho! Corn all the way from Idaho?)

Justine Griffin might think the farmers markets here are fabulous. They are farmers markets in name only.